Project – An Assessment of Evangelism Strategies and Church Growth in Rural Assemblies of God Churches in Akwa Ibom State

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Evangelism remains the central mandate of the Christian church as expressed in the Great Commission, where believers are instructed to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19–20). Within Pentecostal traditions, evangelism is not only a theological responsibility but also a practical expression of faith through outreach programmes, crusades, revival meetings, personal witnessing, and church planting. The effectiveness of these evangelism strategies often determines the numerical and spiritual growth of the church.

Church growth, as a concept, refers to the increase in the number of believers, spiritual maturity of members, expansion of church structures, and overall effectiveness in fulfilling the mission of Christ. According to Understanding Church Growth, church growth is not accidental but results from intentional strategies that combine evangelism, discipleship, and contextual mission approaches. McGavran emphasizes that churches grow when they intentionally reach people in ways that are culturally and spiritually relevant.

In rural areas of Nigeria, particularly in Akwa Ibom State, Assemblies of God churches play a significant role in community evangelism and spiritual development. These rural churches often rely on traditional evangelism methods such as door-to-door outreach, village crusades, and revival services. However, despite these efforts, many rural congregations continue to experience inconsistent growth patterns, with some churches growing slowly while others struggle to maintain members.

The effectiveness of evangelism strategies in rural contexts is influenced by several factors, including accessibility, literacy levels, cultural beliefs, transportation challenges, and availability of trained evangelists. According to Your Church Can Grow, effective church growth requires not only evangelistic zeal but also strategic planning, follow-up, and contextual adaptation of ministry approaches.

In addition, rural Assemblies of God churches often face limitations in resources, which affects the consistency and sustainability of evangelism programmes. Despite these challenges, there are also opportunities for growth, especially where churches adopt relational evangelism, community-based outreach, and discipleship-oriented strategies.

Therefore, assessing evangelism strategies in rural Assemblies of God churches is essential in understanding how these approaches influence church growth and what improvements can be made to enhance effectiveness.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite continuous evangelistic efforts by Assemblies of God churches in rural areas of Akwa Ibom State, many congregations still experience slow or unstable growth. While crusades, outreach programmes, and revival meetings are regularly conducted, the expected level of sustainable church growth is often not achieved.

One major concern is that many evangelism strategies used in rural churches are not systematically structured or contextually adapted to the rural environment. In some cases, evangelistic efforts focus mainly on short-term events rather than continuous engagement and follow-up of new converts. This results in a high rate of conversion without adequate retention or discipleship.

Furthermore, rural churches often face challenges such as inadequate financial resources, limited transportation, shortage of trained evangelists, and communication barriers. These challenges affect the consistency and effectiveness of evangelism programmes, thereby limiting their impact on church growth.

Another issue is the lack of evaluation of existing evangelism strategies. Many churches continue to use traditional approaches without assessing their effectiveness in achieving sustainable growth. As a result, ineffective methods may persist, while more productive strategies are not fully explored or implemented.

If these issues are not properly addressed, rural Assemblies of God churches may continue to experience minimal growth despite ongoing evangelistic activities. It is against this background that this study seeks to assess evangelism strategies and their impact on church growth in rural Assemblies of God churches in Akwa Ibom State.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to assess evangelism strategies and church growth in rural Assemblies of God churches in Akwa Ibom State.

Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. Examine the evangelism strategies used in rural Assemblies of God churches.
2. Assess the effectiveness of these strategies on church growth.
3. Identify challenges affecting evangelism in rural churches.
4. Evaluate the relationship between evangelism strategies and church growth.

1.4 Research Questions

The study is guided by the following research questions:

1. What evangelism strategies are used in rural Assemblies of God churches in Akwa Ibom State?
2. How effective are these evangelism strategies in promoting church growth?
3. What challenges affect evangelism activities in rural Assemblies of God churches?
4. What is the relationship between evangelism strategies and church growth in rural Assemblies of God churches?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H₀: There is no significant relationship between evangelism strategies and church growth in rural Assemblies of God churches in Akwa Ibom State.

H₁: There is a significant relationship between evangelism strategies and church growth in rural Assemblies of God churches in Akwa Ibom State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to pastors, church leaders, evangelists, and denominational administrators by providing insights into effective evangelism strategies that promote sustainable church growth. It will also help rural churches to identify strengths and weaknesses in their evangelistic approaches. Academically, the study will contribute to existing literature on church growth, missiology, and rural ministry development in Nigeria.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study is limited to rural Assemblies of God churches in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It focuses on evangelism strategies and their impact on church growth. The respondents include pastors, evangelists, church workers, and members involved in evangelism activities.

1.8 Definition of Terms

• Evangelism Strategies: Planned methods and approaches used by the church to spread the gospel and win souls.
• Church Growth: The numerical, spiritual, and organizational increase of a church.
• Rural Church: A church located in a village or non-urban community with limited infrastructure and resources.
• Assemblies of God: A Pentecostal Christian denomination emphasizing evangelism, holiness, and the Holy Spirit.

Project – An Assessment of Evangelism Strategies and Church Growth in Rural Assemblies of God Churches in Akwa Ibom State